Swan says stimulus cash to be mailed out

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the one-off payments that form part of the government's
economic stimulus package will be mailed out to all those eligible within two
months.
The government's $42 billion economic stimulus package, which is aimed at staving
off a recession, was passed by parliament on Friday.
Mr Swan said the first one-off bonuses, including the $900 single-income family
bonus for families with one main earner, would be delivered by Centrelink from March
11.
The $950 back-to-school bonus, aimed at helping families with school age children
with the costs of starting the 2009 school year, would also be mailed then.
Mr Swan said tax bonuses, of up to $900, for working Australians would be delivered
from April 6, and people wanting to insulate their home could do so from July 1 by
phoning 1800 808 751.
The National Building School Modernisation Program applications would be assessed by
the states before April, he said.
Mr Swan said overnight figures from the European and US economies proved the urgent
need for the government to provide "vital support" to Australia's economy.
"What is going on internationally does demand urgent action from the Australian
government," Mr Swan told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday.
"Overnight we've seen figures from the European community where the eurozone has
shrunk in the December quarter by 1.5 per cent, that comes on figures last week
where the shrinkage in the US economy in the December quarter was 1.0 per cent.
"What that means is that we've got to get on with the job of implementing our
national building plans and supporting households and businesses.
"What we've got to do now is to roll up our sleeves, get on with the job of
supporting households and businesses, and above all supporting jobs," Mr Swan said.